Folding device, shell assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a folding device, a shell assembly and electronic equipment. Two first rotating parts of the folding device are rotationally connected to the two opposite sides of a base correspondingly, and two second rotating parts of the folding device are rotationally connected to the two opposite sides of the base correspondingly. One of the first rotating piece and the second rotating piece located on the same side of the base is rotationally connected with one connecting piece, and the other one is rotationally or slidably connected with one connecting piece. Each first supporting piece is rotatably connected with one connecting piece and is slidably and rotatably connected with one first rotating piece or one second rotating piece. The two second supporting pieces are arranged between the two first supporting pieces, each second supporting piece is rotationally connected to one of the base, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the connecting piece which are located on the same side of the base, and the other one of the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the connecting piece is connected in a sliding and rotating mode. In the folding process, the two second supporting pieces rotate, the bottom space is reserved, the screen containing space is increased, water drops of the flexible screen can sink, and the width and the thickness of the folding device are further compressed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of folding devices, and specifically relates to a folding device, a housing assembly, and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] In the mobile terminal industry, the competition is increasingly tending towards large screens and thinness. However, the large screen makes the overall size of the whole machine too large and inconvenient to carry. Foldable electronic devices can change the size of the electronic device due to their folding function, thus solving the above problems and are now very popular among users. Electronic devices rely on folding devices to achieve the folding function. However, at present, in order to accommodate the sinking of the flexible screen in the folded state, the middle plate of the folding device needs to be lowered, thereby increasing the overall thickness of the folding device. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, a first aspect of this application provides a folding device, including:

[0004] A base;

[0005] Two first rotating members, respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base;

[0006] Two second rotating members, respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base;

[0007] Two connecting members, one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member on the same side of the base is rotatably connected to one of the connecting members, and the other is rotatably or slidably connected to one of the connecting members;

[0008] Two first supporting members, each first supporting member is rotatably connected to one of the connecting members, and slidably and rotatably connected to one of the first rotating members or one of the second rotating members; and

[0009] Two second supporting members are disposed between the two first supporting members. Each second supporting member is rotatably connected to one of the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and the connecting member on the same side of the base, and slidably and rotatably connected to the other of the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and the connecting member on the same side of the base.

[0010] The folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application can form a trajectory mechanism by setting a base, two first rotating members, two second rotating members, and two connecting members, thereby providing a basis for the subsequent control of the motion trajectory of various support members. In addition, the present application sets two second support members on the basis of the two first support members, that is, sets two middle plates on the basis of the two inclined plates. In other words, a middle plate in the related art is divided into two middle plates, and these two middle plates are respectively rotated to connect the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and one of the connecting members, and slide and rotate to connect the other. It can also be understood that the middle plate and the above-mentioned components are connected in a coordinated manner. Since the base is fixed, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and the connecting member will move according to their respective motion trajectories, and thus will drive the second support member to move together.

[0011] When the folding device is in the unfolded state, the two first support members and the two second support members jointly support the flexible screen. When the folding device is folded, in addition to the two first support members, the two second support members will also fold with each other, thereby freeing up the space where the two second support members were originally located, as well as the gap between the two second support members and the base, so that the bending area of ​​the flexible screen can sink. In this way, there is no need for the two second support members to descend, reducing the thickness of the entire folding device, and because the flexible screen can sink, the bending angle of the bending area of ​​the flexible screen can be reduced, thereby reducing the width of the entire folding device in the folded and unfolded states.

[0012] Furthermore, the present application enables the second support member to cooperate with the above-mentioned components instead of the first support member, which can avoid the connection between the first support member and the second support member being exposed in the width direction when in the folded state, thereby increasing the width of the folding device.

[0013] In addition, the present application can also utilize two second support members to embrace and support a larger area of ​​the flexible screen when in a folded state. Compared with the solution of one middle plate in the related art, the area supporting the flexible screen can be increased, the deformation degree of the flexible screen can be reduced, the internal stress of the flexible screen can be reduced, the failure risk of the flexible screen can be reduced, and the reliability of the flexible screen can be improved.

[0014] In summary, the folding device provided in the present application can reduce the thickness and width of the folding device and improve the reliability of the flexible screen.

[0015] The second aspect of the present application provides a shell assembly, which includes a first shell, a second shell, and a folding device as provided in the first aspect of the present application, wherein the folding device is connected between the first shell and the second shell, the first shell is fixed to one of the connecting parts of the folding device, and the second shell is fixed to the other connecting part of the folding device.

[0016] The housing assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application can reduce the thickness and width of the housing assembly and improve the reliability of the flexible screen by adopting the folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application.

[0017] The third aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, which includes a flexible screen and a housing assembly as provided in the second aspect of the present application. The flexible screen is bonded to the first housing, the second housing, and the support member in the folding device of the housing assembly.

[0018] The electronic device provided in the third aspect of the present application can reduce the thickness and width of the electronic device and improve the reliability of the flexible screen by adopting the housing assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments of the present application will be described below.

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view of the folding device in the unfolded state in an embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 2 For Figure 1 the exploded view of the folding device shown.

[0022] Figure 3 For Figure 2 the schematic perspective view of the track mechanism in the folding device shown.

[0023] Figure 4 For Figure 3 the exploded view of the track mechanism shown.

[0024] Figure 5 For Figure 1 the front view of the folding device shown.

[0025] Figure 6 It is a schematic perspective view of the folding device in the folded state in an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 7 For Figure 6 the front view of the folding device shown.

[0027] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the cooperation of the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and the connecting member in an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 9 It is a disassembled schematic diagram of part of the first support member and the second rotating member in an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 10It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the second rotating member, and the first supporting member when the folding device is in an unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 11 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the second rotating member, and the first supporting member when the folding device is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 12 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded view of part of the second supporting member, the base, and the first rotating member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 13 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the first support member, and the second support member when the folding device is in an unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 14 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the first support member, and the second support member when the folding device is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0035] Figure 16 for Figure 15 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0036] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0037] Figure 18 for Figure 17 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0038] Figure 19 for Figure 18 A front view of the folding device shown when it is matched with the flexible screen.

[0039] Figure 20 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the cooperation between the two second rotating members and the third supporting member when the folding device is in an unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Figure 21 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the cooperation between the two second rotating members and the third supporting member when the folding device is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Figure 22 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the shell assembly in an embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0042] Figure 23Schematic perspective view of the housing assembly in the folded state according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Figure 24 Schematic perspective view of the electronic device in the unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Figure 25 Schematic perspective view of the electronic device in the folded state according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0045] Reference numeral description:

[0046] Folding device - 1, screen - receiving space - 1a, track mechanism - 1b, housing assembly - 2, electronic device - 3, base - 10, bottom surface - 100, top surface - 101, base body - 11, decorative member - 12, first rotation axis - C1, second rotation axis - C2, third rotation axis - C3, fourth rotation axis - C4, first arc groove - 13, first rotation shaft - 14, second rolling shaft - 15, first rotating member - 20, first arc track - 21, second rotation hole - 22, third rotation hole - 23, second rotating member - 30, first rotation hole - 31, second arc track - 32, first rolling shaft - 33, clamping groove - 34, first side wall - 341, second side wall - 342, bottom wall - 343, connecting member - 40, top surface - 400, second rotation shaft - 41, second arc groove - 42, third arc groove - 43, first support member - 50, first support surface - 500, first support portion - 51, first rolling portion - 52, first rolling groove - 520, first limiting end - 521, second limiting end - 522, first communication portion - 523, third arc track - 53, second support member - 60, second support surface - 600, second support portion - 61, second rolling portion - 62, second rolling groove - 620, third limiting end - 621, fourth limiting end - 622, second communication portion - 623, third rotation shaft - 63, third support member - 70, clamping post - 71, first housing - 81, second housing - 82, flexible screen - 90. Detailed implementation manners

[0047] The following are the preferred embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present application, several improvements and refinements can be made, and these improvements and refinements are also regarded as the protection scope of the present application.

[0048] With the market demand for the "display area" of terminal products such as mobile phones and tablets, the competition in the mobile terminal industry is increasingly tending towards large screens and ultra-thinness. However, large screens make the size of the whole machine too large and inconvenient to carry. The smartphone industry is ushering in an experience revolution brought about by form innovation. The display form of mobile phone products has developed from the initial hard screen to flexible screen, from small screen to large screen, from static mechanism to motion mechanism. Recently, major mobile phone manufacturers have been developing folding screens, striving to expand the form and display boundaries of mobile phone products, so that they have the functions of mobile phones, tablets and even computers. As an electronic device with a new display form, the foldable display terminal can be unfolded or closed due to its folding function, and has a larger display area in the unfolded state and a smaller overall size in the folded state, which can solve the above problems. It is now loved by the majority of users.

[0049] As foldable display terminals become more popular, thinness and lightness have become the main selling point, and it is also the primary direction for foldable terminal manufacturers to invest a lot of resources in research and development. As the main component of foldable display terminals, the folding device has naturally become the main field for various manufacturers to compete. At present, there are mainly two types of inward folding devices: U-shaped and water drop-shaped. Regardless of the form, the current folding device generally adopts a three-plate type, that is, using two inclined plates and one middle plate to assist the flexible screen to fold into a water drop shape.

[0050] However, the middle plate of the current three-plate water drop structure is a fixed part. After folding, it is necessary to support the bottom of the flexible screen water drop, resulting in limited screen space. If the screen space is increased, the middle plate needs to be moved down, resulting in an increase in the thickness of the folding device, and the entire device cannot be made thinner. At the same time, when the three-plate water drop foldable display terminal is subjected to impact such as falling in the folded state, the flexible screen will be squeezed toward the middle plate side. Since there are many areas between the inclined plate and the middle plate that do not support the flexible screen, the water drop-shaped flexible screen will deform toward these areas, resulting in increased screen stress, aggravating the risk of screen failure, and reducing the reliability of the flexible screen.

[0051] In order to solve the above problems, this application provides a folding device, please refer to Figures 1 - 7, the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment includes a base 10, two first rotating members 20, two second rotating members 30, two connecting members 40, two first supporting members 50, and two second supporting members 60. The two first rotating members 20 are respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10, and the two second rotating members 30 are respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10. One of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 on the same side of the base 10 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40, and the other is rotatably or slidably connected to the connecting member 40. Each first supporting member 50 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40, and is slidably and rotatably connected to a first rotating member 20 or a second rotating member 30. The two second supporting members 60 are disposed between the two first supporting members 50. Each second supporting member 60 is rotatably connected to one of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on the same side of the base 10, and is slidably and rotatably connected to the other of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on the same side of the base 10.

[0052] The folding device 1 can also be called a rotating shaft or a hinge, and is mainly used for electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers, and can also be used for other non-electronic products that require a torsion rotating shaft, such as doors, windows, and various mechanical structures, etc. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment mainly includes a base 10, a first rotating member 20, a second rotating member 30, a connecting member 40, a first supporting member 50, and a second supporting member 60. This means that the above-mentioned components can be used alone in this embodiment to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. However, in other embodiments, the folding device 1 may also include other components. Next, this embodiment will introduce the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, the connecting member 40, the first supporting member 50, and the second supporting member 60 in detail in sequence.

[0053] The base 10 is a basic component in the folding device 1, and is mainly used to provide a mounting and fixing foundation for other components, that is, many components of the folding device 1 can be mounted on the base 10. When the folding device 1 moves, the base 10 itself remains stationary, and mainly other components of the folding device 1 perform various movements. This embodiment does not limit parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the base 10, as long as it can provide a mounting foundation for other components.

[0054] Optionally, the base 10 has a top surface 101, a bottom surface 100 disposed opposite to each other, and side surfaces that bend and connect the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100. When the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, the top surface 101 is close to the flexible screen of the electronic device, and the bottom surface 100 is away from the flexible screen. In other words, the upper surface of the base 10 is the top surface 101, and the lower surface is the bottom surface 100. Further optionally, both the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100 are flat surfaces, which is convenient for subsequent cooperation with other components, and the side surfaces are convex arc surfaces, which can not only improve the appearance effect of the base 10, but also facilitate cooperation with other components.

[0055] In the folding device 1, the two first rotating members 20 mainly realize the folding function through their rotating ability, and drive and limit the components connected to the two first rotating members 20 through the rotation of the two first rotating members 20, so that these components move along a predetermined movement trajectory. The two first rotating members 20 are rotatably connected to the base 10, that is, the two first rotating members 20 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, one end of the two first rotating members 20 close to the base 10 is rotatably connected to the base 10. Since the base 10 is fixed, only the two first rotating members 20 rotate. And the two first rotating members 20 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the base 10. The opposite sides of the base 10 mentioned in this embodiment refer to the opposite sides along the width direction of the base 10, and the width direction can be understood as the arrangement direction of the two first rotating members 20. The opposite sides in this embodiment and the following text can be understood in the same way. The two first rotating members 20 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the base 10, which can control the expansion and folding of the left and right sides of the folding device 1, so as to control the overall expansion function and folding function of the folding device 1. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the first rotating member 20, as long as the first rotating member 20 can be rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0056] Optionally, the two first rotating members 20 are rotatably connected to the side surfaces of the base 10. Further optionally, in one embodiment, the two first rotating members 20 are axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10, and in another embodiment, the two first rotating members 20 are non-axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10. It can also be understood that the two first rotating members 20 have a partially overlapping area in the length direction of the folding device 1. This embodiment only schematically illustrates the case where the two first rotating members 20 are axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10.

[0057] The second rotating member 30 has the same function as the first rotating member 20. In the folding device 1, the folding function is mainly achieved through its rotating ability, and the components connected to the two second rotating members 30 are driven, limited, and made to move along a predetermined motion trajectory by the rotation of the two second rotating members 30. The two second rotating members 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10, that is, the two second rotating members 30 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the ends of the two second rotating members 30 close to the base 10 are rotatably connected to the base 10. Since the base 10 is fixed, only the two second rotating members 30 can rotate. And the two second rotating members 30 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the base 10. The opposite sides of the base 10 mentioned in this embodiment refer to the opposite sides along the width direction of the base 10. The width direction can be understood as the arrangement direction of the two second rotating members 30. The opposite sides in this embodiment and the following text can be understood in the same way. The two second rotating members 30 being respectively arranged on opposite sides of the base 10 can control the unfolding and folding of the left and right sides of the folding device 1, thereby controlling the overall unfolding and folding functions of the folding device 1. This embodiment does not limit parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the second rotating member 30, as long as the second rotating member 30 can be rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0058] Optionally, the two second rotating members 30 and the two first rotating members 20 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the base 10. This can not only simplify the structure of the folding device 1, making the folding device 1 more compact, but also enable the second rotating members 30 and the first rotating members 20 to be better rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0059] Optionally, the two second rotating members 30 are rotatably connected to the side surface of the base 10. Optionally, in one embodiment, the two second rotating members 30 are axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10, and in another embodiment, the two second rotating members 30 are non-axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10. It can also be understood that the two second rotating members 30 have a partially overlapping area in the length direction of the folding device 1. This embodiment only schematically illustrates the case where the two second rotating members 30 are axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the base 10.

[0060] The connecting member 40 mainly functions to connect various components in the folding device 1. One of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 on the same side of the base 10 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40, and the other is slidably or rotatably connected to a connecting member 40. In one embodiment, the first rotating member 20 can be rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the second rotating member 30 is slidably or rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the second rotating member 30 is slidably connected to the connecting member 40. Or, the first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the second rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. In another embodiment, the second rotating member 30 can be rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the first rotating member 20 is slidably or rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. Specifically, the second rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the first rotating member 20 is slidably connected to the connecting member 40. Or, the second rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, and the first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. In this embodiment, only the case where the first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40 and the second rotating member 30 is also rotatably connected to a connecting member 40 is used for illustrative purposes. As for the connection relationship between the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on the other side of the base 10, it is the same as the connection relationship between the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on one side of the base 10.

[0061] The first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40, that is, the end of the first rotating member 20 away from the base 10 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. In other words, the first rotating member 20 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40. The second rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 40, that is, the end of the second rotating member 30 away from the base 10 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. In other words, the second rotating member 30 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40. In addition, the connecting member 40 is subsequently used to connect the housing so that the connecting member 40 is fixed to the housing. When the housing rotates, the connecting member 40 can be driven to rotate together. This embodiment does not limit parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the connecting member 40, as long as the connecting member 40 can achieve the rotational connection between the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30.

[0062] In addition, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the two connecting members 40 are arranged on opposite sides of the base 10, that is, one connecting member 40 is arranged on one side surface of the base 10, and the other connecting member 40 is arranged on the other side surface of the base 10. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the two connecting members 40 are arranged on the same side of the base 10, that is, the two connecting members 40 are both arranged on the top surface 101 of the base 10.

[0063] The two first support members 50 are mainly used to support the flexible screen and assist the flexible screen in forming when the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, so as to control the folding form of the flexible screen. Therefore, the first support member 50 can also be called an inclined plate, and each first support member 50 is arranged on a connecting member 40. Specifically, the first support member 50 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, that is, the first support member 50 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40, and the first support member 50 is slidably and rotatably connected to a first rotating member 20 or a second rotating member 30, that is, the first support member 50 can rotate relative to the first rotating member 20, and the first support member 50 can also slide relative to the first rotating member 20. Alternatively, the first support member 50 can rotate relative to the second rotating member 30, and the first support member 50 can also slide relative to the second rotating member 30. In this embodiment, only the case where the first support member 50 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40 and is slidably and rotatably connected to the second rotating member 30 is schematically described.

[0064] The two second support members 60 are mainly used to support the flexible screen and assist the flexible screen in forming when the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, so as to control the folding form of the flexible screen. And the two second support members 60 are arranged between the two first support members 50. Therefore, the second support member 60 can also be called a middle plate. At this time, the folding device 1 includes two inclined plates and two middle plates, and the folding device 1 can be called a four-plate structure. Optionally, the flexible screen can be bonded to the first support member 50, or the flexible screen only abuts against the first support member 50, and the flexible screen abuts against the second support member 60, so that the shape of the flexible screen is more natural during the bending process, the stress after bending is small, and the damage of the flexible screen is reduced.

[0065] Two second support members 60 are provided on opposite sides of the base 10. Each second support member 60 cooperates with two of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on its same side. For example, each second support member 60 is rotatably connected to one of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on the same side of the base 10, and is slidably and rotatably connected to the other of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 on the same side of the base 10. In other words, the movement of the middle plate can be achieved through a rotating pair and a rolling pair. Therefore, the same effect can be achieved by adjusting the connection of the middle plate with different components to form a rotating pair and a rolling pair. Specifically, when the second support member 60 is rotatably connected to the base 10, the second support member 60 is slidably and rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, or the connecting member 40. When the second support member 60 is rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20, the second support member 60 is slidably and rotatably connected to the base 10, the second rotating member 30, or the connecting member 40. When the second support member 60 is rotatably connected to the second rotating member 30, the second support member 60 is slidably and rotatably connected to the base 10, the first rotating member 20, or the connecting member 40. When the second support member 60 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 40, the second support member 60 is slidably and rotatably connected to the base 10, the first rotating member 20, or the second rotating member 30. This embodiment is only schematically described with the second support member 60 rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20 and slidably and rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0066] In the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, the connecting member 40, and the support member on one side of the base 10 can be regarded as the left module, and the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, the connecting member 40, and the support member on the other side of the base 10 can be regarded as the right module. The left module and the right module can be symmetrically designed or asymmetrically designed.

[0067] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can form a trajectory mechanism 1b with a base 10, two first rotating members 20, two second rotating members 30, and two connecting members 40. The trajectory mechanism 1b ensures that the screen-containing space 1a in the folded state presents a U shape or a water droplet shape, ensuring better support for the flexible screen without damaging the laminate of the flexible screen. In one embodiment, the folding device 1 includes a trajectory mechanism 1b disposed on one side of the first support member 50 and the second support member 60. In another embodiment, the folding device 1 includes two trajectory mechanisms 1b disposed on one side of the first support member 50 and the second support member 60, and the two trajectory mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the first support member 50 and the second support member 60. At this time, one first support member 50 is rotatably connected to two connecting members 40, and simultaneously slides and rotates to connect two second rotating members 30. One second support member 60 is rotatably connected to two first connecting members 40, and slides and rotates to connect two bases 10. In other embodiments, the folding device 1 includes three or more trajectory mechanisms 1b disposed on one side of the first support member 50 and the second support member 60, and the three or more trajectory mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the first support member 50 and the second support member 60. At this time, one first support member 50 is rotatably connected to three or more connecting members 40, and simultaneously slides and rotates to connect three or more second rotating members 30. One second support member 60 is rotatably connected to three or more first connecting members 40, and slides and rotates to connect three or more bases 10. This embodiment is only schematically described with the folding device 1 including two trajectory mechanisms 1b.

[0068] The rotation mentioned above can be understood as that two components can perform circular motion around the rotation axis, with only angle changes and no displacement changes. Sliding can be understood as two components moving in parallel, with only displacement changes and no angle changes. And when two components can both slide and rotate, it means that the two components have both displacement changes and angle changes. At this time, this kind of sliding and rotation can also be called rolling. Therefore, the connection relationship between the first support member 50 and the second rotating member 30 can also be called that the first support member 50 is rollingly connected to the second rotating member 30. Similarly, the second support member 60 is rollingly connected to the base 10.

[0069] Based on the above connection relationship, it can be known that the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment is composed of 8 kinematic pairs on one side. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 cooperate to form a rotating pair, and the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40 cooperate to form a rotating pair, thereby forming a double rotation. The second rotating member 30 and the base 10 cooperate to form a rotating pair, and the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40 cooperate to form a rotating pair, thereby forming a double rotation. The first support member 50 and the second rotating member 30 cooperate to form a rolling pair, the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 cooperate to form a rotating pair, the second support member 60 and the base 10 cooperate to form a rolling pair, and the second support member 60 and the first rotating member 20 cooperate to form a rotating pair. In summary, the total degree of freedom of the components on one side cooperating together is 3 * 5 (a total of 4 components on one side, such as 1 first rotating member 20, 1 second rotating member 30, 1 connecting member 40, 1 first support member 50, 1 second support member 60) - 2 * 6 (a total of 6 lower pairs on one side, such as 6 rotating pairs) - 1 * 2 (a total of 2 higher pairs on one side, such as 2 rolling pairs) = 1.

[0070] Therefore, when the folding device 1 moves, the movement trajectories and movement routes of each component are unique. Specifically, when the folding device 1 folds, the connecting member 40 rotates relative to the base 10, and the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 also rotate relative to the base 10. The first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 also slide relative to the connecting member 40, the second rotating member 30 also slides and rotates relative to the first support member 50, and the first support member 50 also rotates relative to the connecting member 40, finally causing the two first support members 50 to fold together. At the same time, the second support member 60 also slides and rotates relative to the base 10, and the second support member 60 also rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, finally causing the two second support members 60 to fold together. When the folding device 1 unfolds, the connecting member 40 rotates relative to the base 10, and the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 also rotate relative to the base 10. The first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 also slide relative to the connecting member 40, the second rotating member 30 also slides and rotates relative to the first support member 50, and the first support member 50 also rotates relative to the connecting member 40, finally causing the two first support members 50 to unfold. At the same time, the second support member 60 also slides and rotates relative to the base 10, and the second support member 60 also rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, finally causing the two second support members 60 to unfold.

[0071] In summary, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 jointly drive the connecting member 40 to move. The connecting member 40 is subsequently fixed to the housing, so the housing and the flexible screen fixed to the housing can be driven to fold. And the connecting member 40 and the second rotating member 30 jointly drive the first support member 50 to move, and the first support member 50 is used to control the flexible screen to form a water droplet shape. In addition, in this embodiment, the second support member 60 is not fixed. The base 10 and the first rotating member 20 jointly drive the second support member 60 to move, providing space for the flexible screen to sink while supporting and assisting the formation of the water droplet shape of the flexible screen.

[0072] The movement process of the folding device 1 mentioned above has various active and driven logical relationships. In this application, only one specific movement process is taken as an example for illustration.

[0073] When the folding device 1 folds, that is, during the process of the folding device 1 from the unfolded state to the folded state. In other words, when the two connecting members 40 rotate relative to the base 10 and approach each other, since both the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10, the connecting member 40 can drive the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to also rotate relative to the base 10. And during the rotation of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 can also rotate relative to the connecting member 40, so that the connecting member 40 moves in a direction away from the base 10, changing the distance between the connecting member 40 and the base 10. When the connecting member 40 moves, since the first support member 50 is arranged on the connecting member 40, the connecting member 40 can drive the first support member 50 to move together. When the first support member 50 moves, the second rotating member 30 can also slide and rotate relative to the first support member 50, thereby driving the first support member 50 to rotate relative to the connecting member 40. At the same time, since the rotation of the first rotating member 20 can drive the second support member 60 to rotate together, the second support member 60 slides and rotates relative to the base 10, and further the second support member 60 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20. Finally, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 can be folded with each other. In summary, after the folding starts, the left and right first support members 50 are driven to rotate by the connecting member 40 and the second rotating member 30, and the left and right second support members 60 rotate under the drive of the first rotating member 20, exposing the space below. Subsequently, the flexible screen always adheres to the two middle plates and sinks following the rotation of the middle plates to start forming a water droplet.

[0074] Similarly, when the folding device 1 is unfolded, that is, during the process of the folding device 1 changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, when the two connecting members 40 rotate in opposite directions relative to the base 10 and move away from each other, since both the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10, the connecting member 40 can drive the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to also rotate relative to the base 10. And during the rotation of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 can also rotate relative to the connecting member 40, so that the connecting member 40 moves in the direction close to the base 10, changing the distance between the connecting member 40 and the base 10. When the connecting member 40 moves, since the first support member 50 is arranged on the connecting member 40, the connecting member 40 can drive the first support member 50 to move together. When the first support member 50 moves, the second rotating member 30 can also slide and rotate relative to the first support member 50, thereby driving the first support member 50 to rotate relative to the connecting member 40. At the same time, since the rotation of the first rotating member 20 can drive the second support member 60 to rotate together, the second support member 60 slides and rotates relative to the base 10, and further the second support member 60 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20. Finally, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 can be unfolded from each other.

[0075] In other embodiments, the active and passive relationships of the above-mentioned multiple components can be reversed. For example, it can also be that the first support member 50 and the second support member 60 rotate relative to the base 10, thereby driving the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, and the connecting member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10. Such movement processes and principles should also fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0076] When the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are parallel to each other, and the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are located on opposite sides of the base 10. It can also be understood that one first support member 50 and one second support member 60 are located on one side of the base 10, and the other first support member 50 and the other second support member 60 are located on the other side of the base 10. At this time, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are in a fully unfolded state relative to each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state mentioned above. At this time, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 support the flexible screen at the same time, ensuring that the surface of the flexible screen is flat in the flattened state. When the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are both located on one side of the base 10, it can also be understood that the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are both located on the top surface 101 of the base 10. At this time, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are in a fully folded state relative to each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in the folded state. When the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are folded relative to each other, that is, during the process of the folding device 1 changing from the unfolded state to the folded state. When the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are unfolded relative to each other, that is, during the process of the folding device 1 changing from the folded state to the unfolded state.

[0077] When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the two first support members 50, the two second support members 60 and the base 10 jointly enclose a screen receiving space 1a for receiving the flexible screen. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can make the cross-sectional shape of the screen receiving space 1a be U-shaped or water droplet-shaped. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen receiving space 1a is U-shaped, the distance between the two first support members 50 at the end far from the base 10 is equal to the distance between the two first support members 50 at the end close to the base 10. This type of folding device 1 has a simple structure and high overall reliability of the machine, but the whole machine is relatively thick and uneven after folding. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen receiving space 1a is water droplet-shaped, the distance between the two first support members 50 at the end far from the base 10 is less than the distance between the two first support members 50 at the end close to the base 10, and the distance between the two second support members 60 at the end far from the base 10 is greater than the distance between the two second support members 60 at the end close to the base 10. This type of folding device 1 is relatively thin and flat after folding, but the rotating shaft mechanism is complex and the cost is relatively high. In this embodiment, only the case where the cross-sectional shape of the screen receiving space 1a is water droplet-shaped is used for illustrative description.

[0078] The folding device 1 in the related art only includes two first support members 50 and one second support member 60, and the second support member 60 needs to be able to be raised and lowered when folded in order to accommodate the sinking of the flexible screen, thereby increasing the overall thickness of the folding device 1. In this embodiment, two second support members 60 can be provided on the basis of the two first support members 50, that is, two middle plates are provided on the basis of the two inclined plates. In other words, one middle plate in the related art is divided into two middle plates, and the two middle plates are not fixed, but the two second support members 60 can also be folded relative to each other when folded, thereby freeing up the space where the two second support members 60 were originally located, as well as the gap between the two second support members 60 and the base 10, so as to allow the bending area of ​​the flexible screen to sink.

[0079] like Figure 7 As shown, the dotted line represents the upper surface of the two second support members 60 when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, so the space below the dotted line is the space vacated by the second support members 60. In this way, there is no need for the two second support members 60 to be lowered, thereby reducing the thickness of the entire folding device 1. Specifically, the reduced thickness is the thickness that the second support member 60 needs to be lowered in the related art, or even more, so the entire machine can be made thinner. And because the flexible screen can sink, the bending angle of the bending zone of the flexible screen can be reduced, thereby reducing the width of the folding device 1 in the folded state. And because the flexible screen can sink, the height of the folding device 1 in the folded state can be reduced, which is equivalent to reducing the width of the folding device 1 in the unfolded state.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second support member 60 cooperates with the above-mentioned components instead of the first support member 50, so as to avoid the connection between the first support member 50 and the second support member 60 being exposed and protruding in the width direction when in the folded state, thereby increasing the width of the folding device 1 and improving the safety and stability performance of the connection.

[0081] In addition, the present embodiment can also utilize two second support members 60 to embrace and support a larger area of ​​the flexible screen when in the folded state, that is, the teardrop-shaped flexible screen in the folded state is always surrounded by four plates for support. Compared with the related technology of a middle plate solution, the area supporting the flexible screen can be increased, the deformation degree of the flexible screen can be reduced, the internal stress of the flexible screen can be reduced, the failure risk of the flexible screen can be reduced, and the reliability of the flexible screen can be improved.

[0082] In summary, the folding device 1 of this embodiment adopts a four-plate structure. The middle plate is split into two parts, left and right. During the folding process, the two second support members 60 rotate to create a bottom space, increasing the screen accommodation space 1a to allow the water droplets on the flexible screen to sink. The thickness space inside the folding device 1 is fully utilized to accommodate the flexible screen, thereby further reducing the width and thickness of the folding device 1 and achieving miniaturization and thinness of the folding device 1. At the same time, in the folded state, the two second support members 60 can support the two sides of the bottom of the flexible screen in a profiling manner, ensuring that the flexible screen is always wrapped by four plates on all sides, providing support and protection, and further improving the reliability of the flexible screen.

[0083] In this embodiment, the base 10 includes a base body 11 and a decorative member 12 fixed to the base body 11. The base body 11 is rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30, and the second rolling portion 62 of the second support member 60 is slidably and rotatably connected to the base body 11 or the decorative member 12. The base 10 can be split into the base body 11 and the decorative member 12, where the base body 11 is used for rotatably connecting to the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30. The decorative member 12 is provided on the bottom surface 100 and the side surface of the base body 11 to protect and cover the base body 11 and other components, preventing users from observing the inside of the folding device 1. And the decorative member 12 can also cooperate with the shells on the left and right sides of the base body 11 to jointly form the appearance surface of the electronic device. In this embodiment, the second rolling portion 62 of the second support member 60 can either be in rolling connection with the base body 11 or in rolling connection with the decorative member 12, reducing the rolling assembly difficulty of the second rolling portion 62. This embodiment does not limit this here. This embodiment only uses the second rolling portion 62 in rolling connection with the base body 11 for illustrative purposes.

[0084] The present application will next introduce the cooperating components separately in detail. Since the number of most components is two and they are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the base 10, this embodiment only uses the components on the right side of the base 10 in the folding device 1 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4 for illustrative purposes. The components on the left side of the base 10 can be understood in the same way.

[0085] Please refer to Figure 8 . In this embodiment, the first rotation axis C1 between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and the second rotation axis C2 between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 are parallel to each other. The base 10 has a bottom surface 100. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rotation axis C1 is farther from the bottom surface 100 and farther from the connecting member 40 than the second rotation axis C2.

[0086] The rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 are parallel to each other and have a spacing. In this way, whether the folding device 1 is folded or unfolded, when the connecting member 40 rotates relative to the base 10 to drive the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to also rotate relative to the base 10, since the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 does not coincide with the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10, the connecting member 40 can move relative to the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30, thereby changing the distance between the connecting member 40 and the base 10, driving the first support member 50 rotatably connected to the connecting member 40 to move together, thereby changing the distance between the first support member 50 and the base 10, and further realizing the subsequent movement process. In summary, in this embodiment, no new components need to be added, and only by designing the positions of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 can the movement of the connecting member 40 relative to the second rotating member 30 be realized.

[0087] On the basis that the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2 do not coincide, in this embodiment, the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be made farther from the first bottom surface 100 than the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10, and at the same time, the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be made farther from the connecting member 40 than the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10. In other words, the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 is higher and more to the left than the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10. It can also be understood that the first rotation axis C1 is located in the upper left and the second rotation axis C2 is located in the lower right. Through the design of the positions of the above rotation axes, the connecting member 40 can be moved in a direction away from the base 10 during the process of the folding device 1 from the unfolded state to the folded state, and the connecting member 40 can be moved in a direction close to the base 10 during the process of the folding device 1 from the folded state to the unfolded state. In this way, the first support member 50 and the second support member 60 can be further moved along a preset trajectory, so that when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the folding device 1 forms a water-drop-shaped screen-containing space 1a.

[0088] Please refer to again Figure 3In this embodiment, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 are connected by the first arc rail 21 and the first arc groove 13. The first arc rail 21 is provided at one of the first rotating member 20 and the base 10, and the first arc groove 13 is provided at the other of the first rotating member 20 and the base 10. For example, when the first arc rail 21 is provided at the first rotating member 20, the first arc groove 13 is provided at the base 10, and when the first arc groove 13 is provided at the first rotating member 20, the first arc rail 21 is provided at the base 10. In this embodiment, the first arc rail 21 is provided at the first rotating member 20 and the first arc groove 13 is provided at the base 10 for schematic description. Specifically, a circular arc block is provided on one side of the first rotating member 20 close to the base 10, and the block is the first circular arc rail 21. A protrusion is provided on the base 10, and a circular arc groove is provided in the protrusion, and the groove is the first circular arc groove 13. The first circular arc rail 21 can be provided in the first circular arc groove 13, and the axis of the first circular arc groove 13 is colinear with the axis of the first circular arc rail 21, so that the first rotating member 20 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be rotatably connected together through the arc slide rail and the arc slide groove. As for the size and curvature of the first circular arc groove 13 and the first circular arc rail 21, they can be designed according to the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10. The design of the first arc groove 13 and the first arc track 21 can make the position of the rotation axis inside or outside the base 10, and the position of the rotation axis can be better designed by adjusting the size and curvature of the first arc groove 13 and the first arc track 21, so as to achieve the positional relationship between the above-mentioned rotation axis and the rotation axis. Of course, in other embodiments, the first arc groove 13 can also be provided on the first rotating member 20, and the first arc track 21 can be provided on the base 10.

[0089] In summary, the present embodiment can better adjust the position of the rotation axis by adopting the rotation connection scheme of the first circular arc groove 13 and the first circular arc rail 21, so as to achieve the purpose of making the rotation axis parallel to each other. In addition, the matching form of the first circular arc groove 13 and the first circular arc rail 21 can change the distance between the end of the first rotating member 20 away from the base 10 and the base 10 when the first rotating member 20 rotates relative to the base 10, thereby adjusting the distance between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10, and further achieving the purpose of controlling the first support member 50 to slide relative to the base 10.

[0090] In this embodiment, the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 are connected by the cooperation of the first rotating shaft 14 and the first rotating hole 31. The first rotating shaft 14 is provided on one of the second rotating member 30 and the base 10, and the first rotating hole 31 is provided on the other of the second rotating member 30 and the base 10. For example, when the first rotating shaft 14 is provided on the second rotating member 30, the first rotating hole 31 is provided on the base 10, and when the first rotating hole 31 is provided on the second rotating member 30, the first rotating shaft 14 is provided on the base 10. This embodiment only uses the case where the first rotating shaft 14 is provided on the base 10 and the first rotating hole 31 is provided on the second rotating member 30 for illustrative purposes. From the above content, since the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be matched by the first arc groove 13 and the first arc rail 21, the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be changed by designing the radian and size of the first arc groove 13 and the first arc rail 21. Therefore, there is no need to change the position of the rotation axis between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10, and only the cooperation of the first rotating shaft 14 and the first rotating hole 31 is used, thus simplifying the structure of the folding device 1.

[0091] Please refer to again Figure 8 , in this embodiment, both the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are rotatably connected to the connecting member 40. The third rotation axis C3 between the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40 and the fourth rotation axis C4 between the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40 are parallel to each other. The connecting member 40 has a top surface 400. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the third rotation axis C3 is closer to the top surface 400 and closer to the base 10 than the fourth rotation axis C4.

[0092] Since the connecting member 40 slides in the direction close to or away from the base 10 under the drive of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 when rotating relative to the base 10, but since the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10 and the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 cannot slide relative to the base 10, in order to avoid movement interference, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 can continue to rotate relative to the base 10 by a certain angle to compensate for the distance difference caused by the sliding of the connecting member 40. At the same time, the connecting member 40 does not continue to rotate by a certain angle. Therefore, also in order to avoid movement interference, when one end of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 rotates relative to the base 10, the other end of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 can also rotate relative to the connecting member 40 by a certain angle.

[0093] This embodiment can also make the third rotation axis C3 and the fourth rotation axis C4 parallel to each other. In other words, the third rotation axis C3 and the fourth rotation axis C4 are parallel to each other and have a spacing. Since the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 will continue to rotate a certain angle on the basis of normal rotation, but the angles of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 rotating further are not the same. Therefore, by making the third rotation axis C3 and the fourth rotation axis C4 parallel to each other, the problem of interference between the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 during the above rotation process can be avoided, ensuring the smooth movement of the folding device 1 and improving the smoothness of the movement of the folding device 1.

[0094] When the folding device 1 is applied to an electronic device, the connecting member 40 is provided on the side of the flexible member away from the display surface. Therefore, the connecting member 40 has a top surface 400 close to the flexible screen. This embodiment can make the third rotation axis C3 closer to the top surface 400 than the fourth rotation axis C4, that is, the third rotation axis C3 is higher than the fourth rotation axis C4. And the third rotation axis C3 is closer to the base 10 than the fourth rotation axis C4, that is, the third rotation axis C3 is to the left of the fourth rotation axis C4. Therefore, the third rotation axis C3 is located in the upper left, and the fourth rotation axis C4 is located in the lower right, so as to cooperate with the first rotation axis C1 located in the upper left and the second rotation axis C2 located in the lower right, thereby further ensuring the smooth movement of the folding device 1 and preventing the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 from interfering with each other during the rotation process.

[0095] Please refer to again Figure 3 With Figure 8 , in this embodiment, between the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40, the rotating shaft and the rotating hole are matched. The rotating shaft is provided on one of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40, and the rotating hole is provided on the other of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40. Between the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40, the arc track and the arc groove are matched. The arc track is provided on one of the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40, and the arc groove is provided on the other of the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40.

[0096] In this embodiment, the third rotation axis C3 can be located inside the connecting member 40, while the fourth rotation axis C4 can be located outside the connecting member 40, so as to better cooperate with the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2, and utilize the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to drive the trajectory of the connecting member 40. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40 are connected in a matching manner through the second rotating shaft 41 and the second rotating hole 22. The second rotating shaft 41 is provided on one of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40, and the second rotating hole 22 is provided on the other of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40. For example, when the second rotating shaft 41 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the second rotating hole 22 is provided on the connecting member 40; when the second rotating hole 22 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the second rotating shaft 41 is provided on the connecting member 40. This embodiment is only schematically described with the second rotating shaft 41 provided on the connecting member 40 and the second rotating hole 22 provided on the first rotating member 20. At this time, the second rotating shaft 41 can also be called a rotating shaft, and the second rotating hole 22 can also be called a rotating hole. Since the axis of the second rotating shaft 41 is the above-mentioned third rotation axis C3, and the second rotating shaft 41 needs to be provided on the connecting member 40, the second rotating shaft 41 is provided inside the connecting member 40, that is, the third rotation axis C3 is provided inside the connecting member 40, which is convenient for the assembly of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 40.

[0097] The second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40 are connected by the second arc rail 32 and the second arc groove 42. The second arc rail 32 is provided at one of the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40, and the second arc groove 42 is provided at the other of the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40. For example, when the second arc rail 32 is provided at the second rotating member 30, the second arc groove 42 is provided at the connecting member 40, and when the second arc groove 42 is provided at the second rotating member 30, the second arc rail 32 is provided at the connecting member 40. In this embodiment, the second arc rail 32 is provided at the second rotating member 30 and the second arc groove 42 is provided at the connecting member 40 for schematic description. At this time, the second arc rail 32 can also be referred to as an arc rail, and the second arc groove 42 can also be referred to as an arc groove. Specifically, a circular arc block is provided on one side of the second rotating member 30 close to the connecting member 40, and the block is the second circular arc rail 32. A protrusion is provided on the connecting member 40, and a circular arc groove is provided in the protrusion, and the groove is the second circular arc groove 42. The second circular arc rail 32 can be provided in the second circular arc groove 42, and the axis of the second circular arc groove 42 is colinear with the axis of the second circular arc rail 32, so that the second rotating member 30 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40. In other words, the second rotating member 30 and the connecting member 40 can be rotatably connected together through the arc slide rail and the arc slide groove. The position of the fourth rotation axis C4 can be changed by adjusting the size and curvature of the second circular arc rail 32 and the second circular arc groove 42, so that the fourth rotation axis C4 is located outside the connecting member 40, which can facilitate the mutual cooperation of the first rotation axis C1, the second rotation axis C2, the third rotation axis C3, and the fourth rotation axis C4, thereby driving the connecting member 40 to move according to a predetermined trajectory.

[0098] Please refer to Figures 9 - 11 In this embodiment, the first support member 50 includes a first support portion 51 having a first support surface 500, and a first rolling portion 52 disposed on the first support portion 51 away from the first support surface 500. The second rotating member 30 and the first rolling portion 52 are matched with each other through a first rolling shaft 33 and a first rolling groove 520. The first rolling shaft 33 is disposed on one of the second rotating member 30 and the first rolling portion 52, and the first rolling groove 520 is disposed on the other of the second rotating member 30 and the first rolling portion 52. The first rolling groove 520 has a first limiting end 521 and a second limiting end 522 disposed opposite to each other. The first limiting end 521 is further away from the base 10 and the first support surface 500 than the second limiting end 522. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rolling shaft 33 is positioned at the first limiting end 521, and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the first rolling shaft 33 is positioned at the second limiting end 522.

[0099] The first support member 50 includes a first support portion 51 and a first rolling portion 52. The first support portion 51 is used to support the flexible screen. Therefore, the upper surface of the first support portion 51 is the first support surface 500 for supporting the flexible screen. The first rolling portion 52 is provided on the lower surface of the first support portion 51, that is, the surface facing away from the first support surface 500, and is used for rolling connection with the second rotating member 30. Between the second rotating member 30 and the first rolling portion 52, the first rolling shaft 33 is matched with the first rolling groove 520. When the first rolling shaft 33 is provided on the second rotating member 30, the first rolling groove 520 is provided on the first rolling portion 52. When the first rolling groove 520 is provided on the second rotating member 30, the first rolling shaft 33 is provided on the first rolling portion 52. In this embodiment, only the case where the first rolling shaft 33 is provided on the second rotating member 30 and the first rolling groove 520 is provided on the first rolling portion 52 is used for illustrative purposes. The first rolling shaft 33 can rotate relative to the first rolling groove 520, so that the first support member 50 rotates relative to the second rotating member 30. At the same time, the first rolling shaft 33 can also slide relative to the first rolling groove 520, so that the first support member 50 slides relative to the second rotating member 30, so that the first support member 50 slides and rotates relative to the second rotating member 30. Optionally, the first rolling shaft 33 includes, but is not limited to, a pin.

[0100] The first rolling groove 520 has two opposite ends: a first limiting end 521 and a second limiting end 522. Since the first rolling shaft 33 will slide in the first rolling groove 520, the first limiting end 521 and the second limiting end 522 can be used to limit the sliding position of the first rolling shaft 33, so that when the first rolling shaft 33 slides to the first limiting end 521 and the second limiting end 522, its sliding will stop and cannot continue to slide. The first limiting end 521 is farther from the base 10 than the second limiting end 522, and the first limiting end 521 is farther from the first support surface 500 than the second limiting end 522. In other words, the first limiting end 521 is more to the right and more downward than the second limiting end 522, that is, the first limiting end 521 is located at the lower right position, and the second limiting end 522 is located at the upper left position. Optionally, the first limiting end 521 located at the lower right has an opening, which is convenient for the first rolling shaft 33 to be inserted into the first rolling groove 520 from the opening.

[0101] When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rolling shaft 33 is located at the lower right of the first rolling groove 520, and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the first rolling shaft 33 is located at the upper left of the first rolling groove 520. Therefore, during the process of the folding device 1 changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the connecting member 40 rotates relative to the base 10, driving the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to also rotate relative to the base 10. Since the rotation axes between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 do not coincide, when the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 40 and the first support member 50 rotatably connected to the connecting member 40 can slide in a direction away from the base 10. Therefore, with the cooperation of the second rotating member 30 rotating relative to the base 10 and the first support member 50 sliding in a direction away from the base 10, the position of the first rolling shaft 33 in the first rolling groove 520 changes, moving from the first limiting end 521 to the second limiting end 522, or in other words, the first rolling shaft 33 rolls from the lower right to the upper left in the first rolling groove 520, thereby changing the position between the rotation axis between the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 and the first rolling shaft 33, causing the first support member 50 to rotate relative to the connecting member 40, and finally enabling the folding device 1 to enclose a water-drop-shaped screen-containing space 1a when in the folded state.

[0102] When the folding device 1 changes from the folded state to the unfolded state, the connecting member 40 rotates in the opposite direction relative to the base 10, driving the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 to also rotate in the opposite direction relative to the base 10. Since the rotation axes between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and between the second rotating member 30 and the base 10 do not coincide, when the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 40 and the first support member 50 rotatably connected to the connecting member 40 can slide in a direction close to the base 10. Therefore, with the cooperation of the second rotating member 30 rotating relative to the base 10 and the first support member 50 sliding in a direction close to the base 10, the position of the first rolling shaft 33 in the first rolling groove 520 changes, moving from the second limiting end 522 to the first limiting end 521, or in other words, the first rolling shaft 33 rolls from the upper left to the lower right in the first rolling groove 520, thereby changing the position between the rotation axis between the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 and the first rolling shaft 33, causing the first support member 50 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the connecting member 40, and finally enabling the two first support members 50 to be arranged flat on opposite sides of the base 10 when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state.

[0103] In addition, in other embodiments, the positions of the first limiting end 521 and the second limiting end 522 can also be designed so that the first support member 50 does not rotate relative to the connecting member 40. Therefore, when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the distances between the two first support members 50 are equal, and the folding device 1 forms a U-shaped screen-containing space 1a.

[0104] The first rolling groove 520 further has a first communication portion 523 connecting the first limiting end 521 and the second limiting end 522, and the first communication portion 523 protrudes away from the first support surface 500. The first rolling shaft 33 can be located in the first communication portion 523 in other states except the unfolded state and the folded state. In this embodiment, the first communication portion 523 can protrude away from the first support surface 500, which can also be understood as the shape of the first communication portion 523 being arc-shaped, and the arc protruding away from the first support surface 500. This can not only control the position of the first rolling shaft 33 in the first rolling groove 520 during the entire movement process, thereby controlling the positional relationship between the rotation axis between the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 and the first rolling shaft 33, so that the first support member 50 rotates to form a water droplet shape in the folded state. And the arc-shaped first rolling groove 520 can also make the rolling of the first rolling shaft 33 smoother, improving the smoothness and stability of the movement of the folding device 1.

[0105] Of course, in other embodiments, the shape of the first communication portion 523 can also be linear or other shapes, as long as the positions of the first limiting end 521 and the second limiting end 522 satisfy the above-mentioned positional relationship.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 are connected in cooperation through a third arc rail 53 and a third arc groove 43. The third arc rail 53 is provided on one of the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40, and the third arc groove 43 is provided on the other of the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40. When the third arc rail 53 is provided on the first support member 50, the third arc groove 43 is provided on the connecting member 40, and when the third arc groove 43 is provided on the first support member 50, the third arc rail 53 is provided on the connecting member 40. This embodiment only makes a schematic illustration with the third arc groove 43 provided on the connecting member 40 and the third arc rail 53 provided on the first support member 50.

[0107] The third arc rail 53 can be disposed in the third arc groove 43, and the axes of the third arc groove 43 and the third arc rail 53 are collinear, so that the first support member 50 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40. As for the sizes and radian of the third arc groove 43 and the third arc rail 53, they can be designed according to the position of the rotation axis between the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40. Additionally, from the above content, it can be known that in this embodiment, the first support member 50 can rotate relative to the connecting member 40 by changing the position between the rotation axis of the first support member 50 and the connecting member 40 and the first rolling shaft 33. Therefore, by adopting the design of the arc groove and the arc rail, the position of the rotation axis can be inside or outside the connecting member 40. By adjusting the sizes and radian of the third arc groove 43 and the third arc rail 53, the positions and shapes of the first rolling shaft 33 and the first rolling groove 520 can be better designed, so that the first support member 50 rotates relative to the connecting member 40.

[0108] Optionally, in one embodiment, the connecting member 40 may have a third arc groove 43, and one third arc groove 43 is disposed on one side of the connecting member 40. Correspondingly, the first support member 50 has a third arc rail 53. In another embodiment, the connecting member 40 may have two third arc grooves 43, and the two third arc grooves 43 are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting member 40. Correspondingly, the first support member 50 has two third arc rails 53. This embodiment only schematically illustrates with the connecting member 40 having two third arc rotating parts and the first support member 50 having two third arc rails 53.

[0109] In this embodiment, the connecting member 40 and the first support member 50 are connected in cooperation through a constraint shaft and a constraint groove. The constraint shaft is disposed on one of the connecting member 40 and the first support member 50, and the constraint groove is disposed on the other of the connecting member 40 and the first support member 50. The constraint shaft and the constraint groove can cooperate with each other to prevent the inclined plate from rotating excessively relative to the rotating member of the connecting member 40 during the movement of the folding device 1, thus causing warping and subsequent affecting the crease of the flexible screen. In other words, in this embodiment, a virtual constraint is added between the connecting member 40 and the second rotating member 30 to limit the movement trajectory of the inclined plate, but the constraint shaft and the constraint groove do not affect the degrees of freedom of the folding device 1. This embodiment only schematically illustrates with the constraint shaft disposed on the connecting member 40 and the constraint groove disposed on the first support member 50. Of course, in other embodiments, the constraint shaft can also be disposed on the first support member 50 and the constraint groove can be disposed on the connecting member 40.

[0110] Please refer to Figures 12 - 14, in this embodiment, the second support member 60 includes a second support portion 61 having a second support surface 600 and a second rolling portion 62 provided on the second support portion 61 facing away from the second support surface 600. One side of the second rolling portion 62 is slidably and rotatably connected to the base 10, and the other side is rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20. The second support member 60 includes the second support portion 61 and the second rolling portion 62. The second support portion 61 is also used to support the flexible screen. Therefore, the upper surface of the second support portion 61 is the second support surface 600 for supporting the flexible screen. The second rolling portion 62 is provided on the lower surface of the second support portion 61, that is, the surface facing away from the second support surface 600, and is used for rolling connection with the base 10. In this embodiment, one side of the second rolling portion 62 can be used to roll-connect with the base 10, and the other side of the second rolling portion 62 can be used to rotatably connect with the first rotating member 20. In this way, the second rolling portion 62 can be used to simultaneously make different connections with two components, thereby simplifying the structure of the second support member 60.

[0111] , in this embodiment, between the second rolling portion 62 and the base 10, the second rolling shaft 15 is matched with the second rolling groove 620. The second rolling shaft 15 is provided on one of the second rolling portion 62 and the base 10, and the second rolling groove 620 is provided on the other of the second rolling portion 62 and the base 10. The second rolling groove 620 has a third limiting end 621 and a fourth limiting end 622 which are oppositely arranged. The third limiting end 621 is closer to the second support surface 600 and closer to the first support member 50 than the fourth limiting end 622. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the second rolling shaft 15 is positioned at the third limiting end 621, and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the second rolling shaft 15 is positioned at the fourth limiting end 622.

[0112] When the second rolling shaft 15 is provided on the second rolling part 62, the second rolling groove 620 is provided on the base 10; when the second rolling shaft 15 is provided on the base 10, the second rolling groove 620 is provided on the second rolling part 62. In this embodiment, only the case where the second rolling shaft 15 is provided on the base 10 and the second rolling groove 620 is provided on the second rolling part 62 is schematically described. And the second rolling groove 620 has a third limiting end 621 and a fourth limiting end 622 which are oppositely arranged. The third limiting end 621 is closer to the second supporting surface 600 and closer to the first supporting member 50 than the fourth limiting end 622. In other words, the third limiting end 621 is located at the upper right position in the second rolling groove 620, and the fourth limiting end 622 is located at the lower left position in the second rolling groove 620. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the second rolling shaft 15 is positioned at the third limiting end 621; when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the second rolling shaft 15 is positioned at the fourth limiting end 622. This can not only prevent the second supporting member 60 from being folded back when the folding device 1 is in the folded state and the unfolded state, thereby damaging the flexible screen, but also limit the position of the second rolling shaft 15, so as to limit the angle of rotation of the second supporting member 60 relative to the first rotating member 20 and the angle of rotation of the second supporting member 60 relative to the base 10, and further cooperate with the first supporting member 50 and the base 10 to jointly enclose a water-drop-shaped screen accommodating space 1a.

[0113] Moreover, the second rolling groove 620 further has a second communication part 623 connecting the third limiting end 621 and the fourth limiting end 622, and the second communication part 623 protrudes towards the direction close to the second supporting surface 600. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the protruding part of the second communication part 623 can be closer to the second supporting surface 600 than the third limiting end 621, and the second rolling shaft 15 can be located in the second communication part 623 in other states except the unfolded state and the folded state. In this embodiment, the second communication part 623 can protrude towards the direction close to the second supporting surface 600, which can also be understood that the shape of the second communication part 623 is arc-shaped, and this arc protrudes towards the direction close to the second supporting surface 600. This can not only control the position of the second rolling shaft 15 in the second rolling groove 620 during the whole movement process, so as to control the positional relationship between the second rolling shaft 15 and the rotation axes of the second supporting member 60 and the first rotating member 20, and further control the rotation of the second supporting member 60 and the first rotating member 20, so that the second supporting member 60 rotates to form a water-drop shape in the folded state. And the arc-shaped second communication part 623 can also make the rolling of the second rolling shaft 15 smoother, improving the smoothness and stability of the movement of the folding device 1.

[0114] In this embodiment, the second rolling part 62 and the first rotating member 20 are matched through a third rotating shaft 63 and a third rotating hole 23. The third rotating shaft 63 is provided on one of the second rolling part 62 and the first rotating member 20, and the third rotating hole 23 is provided on the other of the second rolling part 62 and the first rotating member 20. In this embodiment, only the case where the third rotating shaft 63 is provided on the second rolling part 62 and the third rotating hole 23 is provided on the first rotating member 20 is used for illustrative purposes. The rotational connection between the second support member 60 and the first rotating member 20 realized by the rotating shaft and the rotating hole can simplify the structure of the second support member 60 and prevent the size of the second rolling part 62 from being too large. At the same time, since the second rolling groove 620 is provided on one side of the second rolling part 62, arranging the third rotating shaft 63 on the other side of the second rolling part 62 can reduce the thickness of the second rolling part 62.

[0115] Please also refer to Figures 15 - 18 In this embodiment, the folding device 1 further includes a third support member 70 provided between the two second support members 60. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the third support member 70 is used to support the flexible screen. During the process of the folding device 1 changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the third support member 70 moves along the direction close to the bottom surface 100 of the base 10. During the process of the folding device 1 changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, the third support member 70 moves along the direction away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10.

[0116] In addition to the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60, the folding device 1 may further include a third support member 70, which is provided between the two second support members 60. At this time, it can be understood that the folding device 1 includes two inclined plates and three middle plates. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, these five plate support members can all be used to support the flexible screen. When the folding device 1 is folded, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are all relatively folded to surround the flexible screen, and the third support member 70 moves along the direction close to the bottom surface 100 of the base 10, that is, moves downward, so as to vacate the space where the third support member 70 is located and the space between the third support member 70 and the base 10, facilitating the sinking of the flexible screen. On the contrary, when the folding device 1 is unfolded, the two first support members 50 and the two second support members 60 are all relatively unfolded, and the third support member 70 moves along the direction away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10, that is, moves upward, so as to support the flexible screen.

[0117] In summary, by adding the third support member 70, the number of support members around the flexible screen can be increased without affecting the sinking of the flexible screen, forming a five-plate surrounding structure to protect the flexible screen, and further improving the reliability of the flexible screen under the drop condition.

[0118] Please refer to Figure 19, in this embodiment, when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the third support member 70 is used to support the flexible screen 90 or is arranged with a gap from the flexible screen 90, and the gap is 0.1 mm - 0.2 mm.

[0119] In one embodiment, when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the third support member 70 can support the flexible screen 90, that is, the third support member 70 abuts against the flexible screen 90, so that the third support member 70 always supports the bottom of the water drop on the flexible screen 90, improving the support effect on the flexible screen 90 in the folded state. In another embodiment, the third support member 70 and the flexible screen 90 have a certain separation gap, and the gap is 0.1 mm - 0.2 mm, which can reserve a certain buffer distance and space for the flexible screen 90 when it drops. This embodiment only uses the third support member 70 and the flexible screen 90 having a certain gap for illustrative purposes. Optionally, the gap can be 0.1 mm, 0.12 mm, 0.14 mm, 0.16 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.2 mm.

[0120] Please refer to Figures 20 - 21 , in this embodiment, clamping posts 71 or clamping grooves 34 are provided on opposite sides of the third support member 70, and the two first rotating members 20 and / or the two second rotating members 30 are correspondingly provided with clamping grooves 34 or clamping posts 71, and the clamping posts 71 are arranged in the clamping grooves 34. When the first rotating member 20 and / or the second rotating member 30 rotate relative to the base 10, the third support member 70 can be driven to move in a direction close to or away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10.

[0121] In this embodiment, at least one of the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 can be used to cooperate with the third support member 70 to drive the up and down movement of the third support member 70. Specifically, clamping posts 71 or clamping grooves 34 can be provided on opposite sides of the third support member 70, and the two first rotating members 20 and / or the two second rotating members 30 are correspondingly provided with clamping grooves 34 or clamping posts 71. For example, clamping posts 71 are provided on opposite sides of the third support member 70, and the two first rotating members 20 and / or the two second rotating members 30 are provided with clamping grooves 34. Or, clamping grooves 34 are provided on opposite sides of the third support member 70, and the two first rotating members 20 and / or the two second rotating members 30 are provided with clamping posts 71. This embodiment only uses the clamping posts 71 provided on opposite sides of the third support member 70 and the two second rotating members 30 provided with clamping grooves 34 for illustrative purposes. In other embodiments, the first rotating member 20 is provided with a clamping groove 34, or both the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are provided with clamping grooves 34, which should also fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0122] The clamping post 71 can be inserted into the clamping groove 34 to form a snap connection. When the second rotating member 30 rotates relative to the base 10, the clamping groove 34 can rotate together. At this time, the side wall inside the clamping groove 34 can abut against the clamping post 71, thereby driving the third support member 70 to move up and down along the direction close to or away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10. In summary, in this embodiment, by lapping the two ends of the third support member 70 with two second rotating members 30 respectively to form a follow-up structure, the third support member 70 can move up and down as the second rotating member 30 rotates, simplifying the structure of the folding device 1.

[0123] In this embodiment, the clamping groove 34 includes a first side wall 341 and a second side wall 342 that are oppositely arranged along the rotation direction, and a bottom wall 343 that is bent to connect the first side wall 341 and the second side wall 342. The bottom wall 343 abuts against the clamping post 71. Along the rotation direction of the second rotating member 30, the clamping groove 34 includes two oppositely arranged side walls: a first side wall 341 and a second side wall 342, and a bottom wall 343 that is bent to connect the two side walls. In this embodiment, the two bottom walls 343 in the two clamping grooves 34 can respectively abut against the two clamping posts 71, thereby preventing the third support member 70 from moving in the width direction during the up and down movement, ensuring that the third support member 70 can only move in the up and down direction. Of course, in other embodiments, the clamping post 71 may not abut against the bottom wall 343 of the clamping groove 34, but a vertically arranged limit guiding mechanism is used to maintain the vertical movement of the third support member 70, thereby preventing its lateral movement.

[0124] In this embodiment, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, one of the first side wall 341 and the second side wall 342 abuts against the clamping post 71, and the other abuts against the clamping post 71, so that in the process of the folding device 1 changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first rotating member 20 and / or the second rotating member 30 synchronously drive the third support member 70 to move. Or the other is spaced from the clamping post 71, so that in the process of the folding device 1 changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first rotating member 20 and / or the second rotating member 30 drive the third support member 70 to move when rotating a preset angle.

[0125] When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, there are two positional relationships between the two side walls of the clamping groove 34 and the clamping post 71. In one embodiment, both the first side wall 341 and the second side wall 342 abut against the clamping post 71. The clamping post 71 abuts against one side wall to prevent the third support member 70 from falling, improving the stability of the third support member 70, and the other side wall can drive the third support member 70 to move down during folding. In other words, as long as the second rotating member 30 rotates, the third support member 70 can be immediately driven to move down.

[0126] In another embodiment, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, only one of the first side wall 341 and the second side wall 342 abuts against the clamping post 71, so as to prevent the third support member 70 from falling and improve the stability of the third support member 70, while the other side wall does not abut against the clamping post 71 but is arranged at an interval. In this way, when the second rotating member 30 rotates relative to the base 10 during the folding of the folding device 1, since the other side wall does not abut against the clamping post 71, only the second rotating member 30 will rotate at this time, and the third support member 70 remains fixed. When the second rotating member 30 rotates by a preset angle, the other side wall just abuts against the clamping post 71, and then the third support member 70 can be driven to move downward when the second rotating member 30 rotates.

[0127] In summary, in this embodiment, the downward movement time of the third support member 70 during the folding of the folding device 1 can be controlled by controlling the connection relationship between the clamping post 71 and the first side wall 341 and the second side wall 342. Optionally, various protrusions can also be provided on the first side wall 341 and / or the second side wall 342 to more easily abut against the clamping post 71 of the third support member 70.

[0128] Please refer to Figures 22 - 23 simultaneously. The housing assembly 2 provided in this embodiment includes a first housing 81, a second housing 82, and the folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The folding device 1 is connected between the first housing 81 and the second housing 82. The first housing 81 is fixed to one of the connecting members 40 of the folding device 1, and the second housing 82 is fixed to the other connecting member 40 of the folding device 1. The housing assembly 2 is a combined component, that is, the housing assembly 2 includes at least two components. In this embodiment, the housing assembly 2 mainly includes two housings and the folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The first housing 81 and the second housing 82 are mainly used to install and carry components. For example, a flexible screen can be carried on the first housing 81 and the second housing 82, and functional modules such as a battery, a PCB assembly, a speaker, a receiver, and a button can also be arranged in the first housing 81 and the second housing 82. Therefore, the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 mainly play the roles of installation and protection. In some embodiments, the surfaces of the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 can also serve as the appearance surfaces. Therefore, the surfaces of the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 can be correspondingly designed to make the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 have a unique outer effect. The parameters such as the shape, material, and structure of the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 are not limited in this embodiment, as long as the functions of installation and protection can be achieved. For example, the materials of the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 can be all metal, or all plastic, or part metal and part plastic.

[0129] One connecting member 40 of the folding device 1 is fixedly connected to the first housing 81, and the other connecting member 40 is fixedly connected to the second housing 82. When the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 rotate, the two connecting members 40 are driven to rotate relative to the base 10, thereby realizing the subsequent movement process. For example, when the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 rotate, the two connecting members 40 on both sides of the base 10 can be driven to rotate relative to the base 10. The rotation of the connecting member 40 can further drive subsequent components such as the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 30, the first supporting member 50, and the second supporting member 60 to move in the movement manner mentioned above. Optionally, the housing and the connecting member 40 can be fixed by means of screws, buckles, or dispensing.

[0130] The housing assembly 2 provided in this embodiment can reduce the thickness and width of the housing assembly 2 and improve the reliability of the flexible screen by adopting the folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application.

[0131] Please refer to Figures 24 - 25 , the electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes a flexible screen 90 and a housing assembly 2 provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The flexible screen 90 is disposed on the same side of the first housing 81, the second housing 82, and the folding device 1.

[0132] The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes, but is not limited to, mobile terminals such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, handheld computers, personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players (PMPs), navigation devices, wearable devices, smart bracelets, and pedometers, as well as fixed terminals such as digital TVs and desktop computers. This embodiment only takes the electronic device 3 as a folding mobile phone for illustrative purposes.

[0133] The electronic device 3 includes a flexible screen 90 and a housing assembly 2. The flexible screen 90 is a component with a certain degree of flexibility. Compared with a rigid member, the flexible screen 90 can be bent to a certain extent. For example, the flexible screen 90 includes, but is not limited to, various flexible components with corresponding functions such as a flexible display screen, a flexible touch screen, and a flexible touch display screen, or a flexible component fixedly attached with a flexible support plate, such as a flexible display screen or a flexible touch screen attached with a flexible steel plate. The flexible screen 90 is disposed on the same side of the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 in the housing assembly 2 and can be bent or flattened along with the housing assembly 2. Specifically, the flexible screen 90 has a bending area and non-bending areas disposed on opposite sides of the bending area. The flexible screen 90 in the bending area is disposed corresponding to the support member of the folding device 1, and the flexible screen 90 in the non-bending areas is fixedly disposed corresponding to the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 of the housing assembly 2. Since the flexible screen 90 in the bending area is disposed on the support member of the folding device 1, the shape of the folding device 1 changes during movement, so it can drive the flexible screen 90 in the bending area to bend as well, thereby bending or flattening along with the movement of the electronic device 3. Since the non-bending areas are fixedly disposed on the first housing 81 and the second housing 82, only relative rotation occurs between the first housing 81 and the second housing 82, and their shapes do not change themselves. Therefore, even if the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 rotate, the flexible screen 90 on the first housing 81 and the second housing 82 does not bend.

[0134] For the electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment, by adopting the housing assembly 2 provided in the above embodiment of the present application, the thickness and width of the electronic device 3 can be reduced, and the reliability of the flexible screen 90 can be improved.

[0135] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

[0136] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0137] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "installed", "connected", "linked", "fixed", etc. shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a connection, a detachable connection, or integrated. It can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. It can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0138] The above has introduced in detail the content provided by the embodiments of this application, and elaborated and explained the principles and embodiments of this application. These explanations are only used to help understand the method and its core idea of this application. However, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. These modifications and variations of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalent technologies.

Claims

1. A folding device, characterized in that, include: Pedestal; Two first rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively; Two second rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively; Two connecting members, one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member located on the same side of the base is rotatably connected to one of the connecting members, and the other is rotatably or slidably connected to one of the connecting members; Two first supporting members, each of which is rotatably connected to one of the connecting members, and is slidably and rotatably connected to one of the first rotating members or one of the second rotating members; as well as Two second support members are arranged between the two first support members, each of the second support members is rotatably connected to the base, the first rotating member located on the same side of the base, the second rotating member, and one of the connecting members, and is slidably and rotatably connected to the base, the first rotating member located on the same side of the base, the second rotating member, and the other of the connecting members.

2. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein, A first rotation axis between the first rotating member and the base and a second rotation axis between the second rotating member and the base are parallel to each other, the base has a bottom surface, and when the folding device is in an unfolded state, the first rotation axis is farther away from the bottom surface and farther away from the connecting member than the second rotation axis.

3. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first rotating member and the second rotating member are both rotatably connected to the connecting member, and a third rotating axis between the first rotating member and the connecting member and a fourth rotating axis between the second rotating member and the connecting member are parallel to each other; the connecting member has a top surface, and when the folding device is in an unfolded state, the third rotating axis is closer to the top surface and closer to the base than the fourth rotating axis.

4. The folding device according to claim 3, wherein, The first rotating member and the connecting member are matched with each other through a rotating shaft and a rotating hole, the rotating shaft is provided at one of the first rotating member and the connecting member, and the rotating hole is provided at the first rotating member and the other of the connecting member; the second rotating member and the connecting member are matched with each other through an arc track and an arc groove, the arc track is provided at one of the second rotating member and the connecting member, and the arc groove is provided at the second rotating member and the other of the connecting member.

5. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first supporting member includes a first supporting portion having a first supporting surface, and a first rolling portion arranged on the first supporting portion away from the first supporting surface. The second rotating member and the first rolling portion are matched with each other through a first rolling axis and a first rolling groove. The first rolling axis is arranged on one of the second rotating member and the first rolling portion, and the first rolling groove is arranged on the other of the second rotating member and the first rolling portion.

6. The folding device according to claim 5, wherein, The first rolling groove has a first limit end and a second limit end that are relatively arranged, and a first connecting portion connecting the first limit end and the second limit end. The first limit end is farther away from the base and the first supporting surface than the second limit end, and the first connecting portion protrudes in a direction away from the first supporting surface; when the folding device is in an unfolded state, the first rolling axis is positioned at the first limit end, and when the folding device is in a folded state, the first rolling axis is positioned at the second limit end.

7. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein The second supporting member includes a second supporting portion having a second supporting surface, and a second rolling portion arranged on the second supporting portion away from the second supporting surface, one side of the second rolling portion is slidably and rotatably connected to the base, and the other side is rotatably connected to the first rotating member; the second rolling portion and the base are matched through a second rolling shaft and a second rolling groove, the second rolling shaft is arranged on one of the second rolling portion and the base, and the second rolling groove is arranged on the other of the second rolling portion and the base.

8. The folding device according to claim 7, wherein The second rolling groove has a third limit end and a fourth limit end that are relatively arranged, and a second connecting portion connecting the third limit end and the fourth limit end. The third limit end is closer to the second support surface and the first support member than the fourth limit end, and the second connecting portion protrudes toward the direction close to the second support surface; when the folding device is in the unfolded state, the second rolling axis is positioned at the third limit end, and when the folding device is in the folded state, the second rolling axis is positioned at the fourth limit end.

9. The folding device according to claim 7, wherein The base includes a base body and a decorative piece fixed to the base body, the base body is rotatably connected to the first rotating piece and the second rotating piece, and the second rolling part is slidably and rotatably connected to the base body or the decorative piece.

10. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The folding device also includes a third support member arranged between the two second support members. When the folding device is in the unfolded state, the third support member is used to support the flexible screen. During the process of the folding device changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the third support member moves along the bottom surface direction close to the base; during the process of the folding device changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, the third support member moves along the bottom surface direction away from the base.

11. The folding device according to claim 10, characterized in that, When the folding device is in the folded state, the third support member is used to support the flexible screen, or is arranged with a gap separated from the flexible screen, and the gap is 0.1mm-0.2mm.

12. The folding device according to claim 10, wherein The third support member is provided with a clamping column on the opposite sides, and the two first rotating members and / or the two second rotating members are correspondingly provided with a clamping groove, and the clamping groove includes a first side wall and a second side wall arranged opposite to each other along the rotation direction, and the clamping column is arranged in the clamping groove; when the first rotating member and / or the second rotating member rotates relative to the base, the third support member can be driven to move in the direction close to or away from the bottom surface of the base.

13. The folding device according to claim 12, wherein The clamping groove further includes a bottom wall connecting the first side wall and the second side wall, and the bottom wall abuts against the clamping post.

14. The folding device according to claim 12, wherein, When the folding device is in the unfolded state, both the first side wall and the second side wall abut against the clamping post, so that in the process of the folding device changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first rotating member and / or the second rotating member synchronously drive the third supporting member to move.

15. The folding device according to claim 12, characterized in that, When the folding device is in the unfolded state, one of the first side wall and the second side wall abuts against the clamping post, and the other is spaced apart from the clamping post, so that in the process of the folding device changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first rotating member and / or the second rotating member drive the third supporting member to move when rotating a preset angle.

16. A housing assembly, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, and the folding device according to any one of claims 1-15. The folding device is connected between the first housing and the second housing. The first housing is fixed to one of the connecting members of the folding device, and the second housing is fixed to the other connecting member of the folding device.

17. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes a flexible screen and the housing assembly according to claim 16. The flexible screen is disposed on the same side of the first housing, the second housing, and the folding device.

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